“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Imagine living at the foot of a mountain, at the edge of a beautiful, quiet river. It is an idyllic setting; quiet, peaceful and relaxing. How wonderful it would be to retreat there, to relax and recuperate after a stressful day at work. There is a time – as we read in Psalm 23 – to lay down in green pastures, by still waters. We all need times when we come aside and rest a while, like Yeshua did with His disciples. There is a time for recuperating from the strains and pressures, the battles we all face daily – and it is wonderful to stop and recharge our batteries. Mike, a soldier told the story of how he and the recognisance group he was in progressing through enemy occupied territory. After resting for a few minutes, the group leader signalled it was time to continue, but Mike was so comfortable he decided to stay a while longer, closing his eyes and almost falling asleep as the rest of the group disappeared from view. That was when Mike came to his senses, realising he was now at his most vulnerable, alone and no longer in communication with his mutually protective colleagues. He was at the mercy of the enemy who were all around, seeking to kill him. The reality of his situation shook him to his senses. He caught up quickly with his team and they continued the journey together. Be aware that your enemy, the devil, prowls around – seeking whom he may devour. Your strength and ability to defeat him comes from your being alert, staying in submission to and in contact with Yehovah, your “commander” and in close fellowship with those he has teamed you up with.